Visit Malaysia 2026 Kicks Off With New Year Countdown Festival
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- The Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign officially kicked off with the staging of the Visit Malaysia 2026 Countdown Festival, a large-scale New Year’s Eve celebration held in vibrant fashion last night at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
The countdown festival, attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, marked the start of efforts to build early momentum for the national tourism sector towards the target of 43 million international visitor arrivals, in line with the aspiration of positioning Malaysia as a leading global tourist destination.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and The Fame Events, the event featured an integrated showcase combining a pyromusical fireworks display, laser projections and iconic 3D anamorphic visuals, creating a symbolic moment ushering in the year 2026.
The celebratory atmosphere was further enlivened by the appearance of Wira and Manja, the sun bear mascots of VM2026, symbolising Malaysia’s identity, warmth and uniqueness as a world-class tourism destination.
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
In a statement today, Tiong said the celebration was a symbolic event to ignite momentum for VM2026 while welcoming the world to Malaysia’s shores.
“Malaysia is now fully ready to showcase its unique culture, creativity and the warm hospitality of its people.
“It marks a strong head start towards our aspiration of 43 million international visitor arrivals, further solidifying our position on the global tourism map,” he said.
The New Year’s Eve celebration also featured a variety of cultural and entertainment performances reflecting the diversity of local talent, with the participation of well-known artistes including Shila Amzah, Aina Abdul, Belle Sisoski, Vanessa Reynauld, Kidd Santhe, The Kuans and KLP48, alongside a fusion of traditional and contemporary music elements.
As a major public event marking the launch of VM2026, the festival successfully attracted thousands of local visitors and tourists, further strengthening Malaysia’s presence on the international tourism stage.
Meanwhile, MOTAC said in the same statement that to expand the impact of the celebrations, several side activities were also organised around the capital, including the VM2026 Bazaar at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, the VM2026 Arts and Culture Exhibition at Fahrenheit 88, as well as food bazaars and street performances in the Bukit Bintang area, offering the public opportunities to engage more closely with local heritage and creativity.
“The festival was also supported by Tourism Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) as main partners, in addition to several cultural agencies as strategic partners,” the statement said.
-- BERNAMA
